Last thoughts before wanderlust

So I am off to Russia tomorrow to visit a few orphanages for the next week and a half. I went on this trip last year with my cousins and I made a lot of friends that I talk to a lot. I packed a normal suitcase this time (for once heh) and no boots. I have thought about this trip everyday since I have been back. So tomorrow, I am back on the plane to visit a lot of kids who have touched my heart. And rooming with my friend, Joe Photo, there is no telling what trouble we will get in with these kids...

Dodger Photos

I finally put my finishing touches on the Dodger images from last week. We had 3rd row Dugout Club Seats. They have all you can eat buffett of dodger dogs, nachos, ice cream, soda, and some other gourmet stuff that I didn't really eat.








Free hotdogs in the dugout club.

Memorial Day for Cornell Capa

Photojournalist, Cornell Capa, associate member of Magnum Photos, died last week. Although Memorial Day is supposed to honor those who have died for our country in the service, Cornell served in the U.S Airforce, then he went on to work for Life Magazine and a photographer for JFK.

"Photography has the capacity to provide images of man and his environment that are both works of art and moments in history."

-Cornell Capa

Magnum Photo Blog

Crops that bug

Check out the crop power from the D300!



Never under estimate the power of a good crop


I was shooting some outdoor portraits, and this stink bug crawled across the lady's open toe shoe. She screamed, and I shot the bug. You can see the bug's eye!

Global Weather

With all this strange heat, people are talking about global warming. But what do they call it when there is rain after the heat wave?
I call it a global meltdown.

My Mom got some Dodger tickets from work...

And I introduced her to Frank McCourt.


My Mom's friend, Annie, brought her son because he plays in little league and it was his first Dodger game. I don't think he can really top this game, ever.

Also, these shot are from my new camera...I am beyond impressed with the Nikon D300.

Florescent Ambiance

I received a call to see if I could "work some magic" for a new casting studio. They sent me the first image below. They were exactly satisified with the images they were going to use for their website. They wanted to make the rooms look big.


These are some that I shot and edited. I used the recessed light and florescent lights with long exposures (and a tripod) to warm up the room.

M.O.P (Movement of the People)

Bored with your top 40 radio or the smut from Rolling Stone Magazine?
Check out this Fela Kuti documentary, the creator of Afrobeat. Although this guy has been dead for a few years now, his music and Nigerian political influence is still powerful.



Wikipedia Link. I really don't get stirred up in politics. (I roll my eyes when people bring up politics. Maybe because people are more passionate than the politicians.) But when I see guys like Fela Kuti get FIRED UP to help out his own people, suddenly I try to learn everything about them because they are so much more interesting than the politics that surround me.

Fela's political group was called Movement of the People (M.O.P), and they don't mess around!

"With my music, I create change...I am using my music as a weapon..."
-Fela Kuti

That's Gold Joey, GOLD!

Ladies and Genlemen, the eagle has landed.
I got my camera yesterday. I have a photoshoot on saturday, and they will be one extra happy couple.

Robert Zimmerman Exhibit

There is still a few weeks left to see the exhibit in the Skirball Museum. You might know Robert Zimmerman better as Bob Dylan. He changed his name to detach himself from his Jewish heritage. Now, a large Jewish museum in a strongly populated Jewish area has a large exhibit featuring Bob Dylan.




If you haven't seen the Dylan documentary by Scorsese, No Direction Home, you should. I watched it twice in the last few weeks. It is real interesting to see how the world reacts to Bob Dylan and his extremely progressive music. At the time, the pop culture songs were "How much is that doggie in the window," and Bob was singing "Times are changing." And every album in Bob made got better and better, and his fans didn't know if they liked him or hated him. Great story, check it out.

Happy Birthday...Mr. President...

For those of you in blog land, today is my birthday. I went all out this year and bought some things for myself (which I really don't do).

So I bought one of these....


And a trip to paradise...

Ok seriously, I am going to Russia in a few weeks. I am pumped. My friend Joe Photo is going back again and we are going to be room mates. I met Joe last year on the way to Russia, and we got in a lot of trouble as soon as we stepped off the plane...
Good times

Sweet Mother of God!

This is the old mission church.

And in the 1980s, the nuns raised enough money to build the
Basilica across the street. (I was surprised to see a blurry picture on wikipedia)

This huge gold plated alter (above) took 14 months to put together.

This is where they keep the Pope's shoes.



I think these nuns were sitting on a gold mine to build all these alters out of gold.

Lets Do Lunch!

So we took a train down to San Juan Capistrano for a "business lunch" at Sarducci's. Then we snuck into the mission. They never saw us coming! I can think of a few things better to spend my $9 than a 4th grade tourist trap.


The ticket lady on the train looks like she wanted to throw someone out the back window.


Mr. Liberatore is always showing off his muscles and claims he is strong. He constantly reminds us.